i'm grateful for . . . 'nurture'

Greetings all,

Following Maxabella Loves lead with being grateful for 'nurture' this week.  We were offered a challenge - to raise a bullied chick, being pecked to death by its 9 siblings - it was the chance to exude nurture in buckets.  I knew how beautiful, loving, caring our first chick was when her sibling failed to thrive . . . she would be an amazing nurture powerhouse to this brand new chick, albeit, only 25 days older.

 So i gingerly placed this day old 25gm chicken with our Viola (she has to be a hen, or a very nurturing gay rooster) & just look at them.  Yes, i had tears in my eyes & a swollen heart watching this.

 Not sure how many heat packs you need when you have a feather doona hugging you.  The expression 'taking you under my wing' comes to mind.

 We have named this new chick is Piccolo.  To think Viola does not find Piccolo annoying is incredible, as she darts under Viola, while she eats, sleeps, moves . . . 

 or just leans on her.  They are inseparable & absolutely meant to be together.

 You know the best thing??  We have since taken 2 of her siblings (3 days later) & guess what, Piccolo is stronger, heavier & higher up the pecking order.  Nurture wins!!

 The children of course are loving more baby chicks to play with.  To make way for them in the coop, we're investigating some adult chicken recipes (sorry adult hens & potential roosters.)  

 We also picked up 2 baby Pekin bantams, who are the cutest things on earth . . . pom poms on fluffy match sticks!!  They like to snuggle into ear muffs & scoot under their 4 Hamburg room mates.  

Special mention to my son who let me chop up his favourite robot blanket.  Thank you readers for not groaning about another chicken post, they are truly melting our hearts, even handsome soldier's . . . i've caught him picking them up for a cuddle too.  Love Posie

snap it 'black & white'

Greetings all,

Black & white photography is a classic, so who better to capture in this week's Snap It with Faith Hope & a Whole Lotta Love Photography than my palest of girls with platinum hair & her speckled Hamburg chick with black & white spotted plumes.

When she wears this fur headband, she speaks in a Russian accent.  Never a dull moment with all the characters in my household, especially when this child asks for Vodka.  Love Posie

a photo-a-day challenge with FatMumSlim April #3

Greetings all,

Welcome to the final 10 images of the photo-a-day challenge with FatMumSlim for April.

 21. bottle - popping the cork on this Veuve Clicquot beauty when my husband returns from Afghanistan next month.  We have so much to celebrate on top of his safe home coming . . . the sale of a property, academic & athletic awards for the children + we're buying a farm & new car!!

22. the last thing you bought - oh hello Country Road, this pom pom mohair blanket is truly to die for, plus a fluffy furry cushion.  I had to order on line, as & i quote "that blanket is only in the city stores in states where it gets cold" i.e. not Canberra which is not only Australia's CAPITAL CITY but we're the most likely city to get snow, um, thank goodness shipping was free. 

 23. vegetable - fresh from my sister's garden: onions, carrots & celery.

 24. something you're grateful for - oh bless my gorgeous Papa, he said he popped a little cash in my bank account & demanded i bought myself something nice, for me, not the children or the house, but for my heart. So i did exactly as i was ordered & picked up the Rachel Ashwell book i spied over Christmas but couldn't afford, a craft & invention book (which i can enjoy with the children) + a little egg cup holder, a love heart hot water bottle . . . just because + that divine felt cabbage which makes me smile.  There were also a couple of pear purchases too.  I'm forever grateful for my father, the most powerful influence in my life, possibly why i married such a similar man - right down to the military & bad back!!

 25. looking down - glorious right, a beef ragu on a cold night in a Bison bowl & quirky cutlery.

 26. black & white - could i possibly go past our baby Speckled Hamburg chickety chick??

 27. somewhere you went - Berrima, near Bowral NSW Southern Highlands.  Have to say, most shop owners in this town loathe children, physically blocking doorways & snapping at children for daring to LOOK at their wares.  My sister & i have really quiet know-how-to-behave-while-shopping children, as we both taught them how to care for precious things at home & actually supervise them.  Really left me with a sour taste in my mouth.  The only place we felt welcome was the Ice Creamery & even there it wasn't particularly friendly (hello, 7 children on school holidays wanting ice-cream??)  Lighten up Berrima!!  Your little village has a prison you know, you're not that fancy!!

28. 1p.m. - stunning Autumn skies & embracing the sunniest city in Australia, yes, it's Canberra folks (you other cities might be gloriously coastal & we're inland, but we get less rainy days)!!  Also love sun kissed blankets on the line.

 29. circle - oh dear, this is how my son stores his crayons now??  We'll be repainting this room before we move (that's the royal 'we', i really mean my husband will be painting.)  Whatever makes a child think to do this??

 30. something that makes you sad - oh the heartbreak of losing a baby chicken has left this one lonely & apparently, i'm her new best friend & she chirps until i let her out of her coop to sit with me.  I can't wait to get more baby chicks to keep her busy, she's getting bigger & bigger, louder & louder about wanting company.  Oh, you might spy the Kikki-K mood board i bought with my Daddy's money too.

So there you have it, a-photo-a-day challenge April done & dusted.  I think i'll play in May, have to say, this totally made me camera ready & it was very enjoyable.  Thanks for hosting FatMumSlim, love Posie

oh boy can i cry, like a river

Greetings all,

Oh boy, i hold back on my personal battles on this blog, as i'm such an optimist & positive to the core, so i only mention my mother's Alzheimer's occasionally & how much i miss my husband . . . but today i've just let it all out . . . crying is soul medicine for me.  I feel like i've cried all day.  ANZAC Day is brutal for a wife while her husband is actually in a war zone, my Godfather passed away last week (a highly decorated Naval Commander) & now, i have a sick little chicken . . . . crescendo of heartbreak is one crushed daughter to console.     

Sure we want to have a farm & eat our animals, however, this is a tiny baby chicken who suddenly stopped thriving & is now weak, not eating or drinking, it's so unfair.  But as we've sat by the coop all day, in tears (this chicken has let me pour out all the pent up worry & sadness about missing my husband, my elderly parents, my darling Godfather) we've watched the most beautiful display of love & affection from our other chicken, who is so strong & healthy, chirp/ snuggle/ caress & watch over the sick one.  That my friends is mother nature at her best.  So while we are keeping the little chicken warm & hopefully comfortable, as her breathing is laboured & strength diminishing rapidly, we hope she goes peacefully.  I know, over a chicken, but she worked her way into our hearts & is letting me release so much tension, i'll be forever grateful for the tiny part of her life she shared with us.  Love Posie